Hunts Point (Alexander et al. 1968)

40,000 people -- Strong community corporation -- Large block worker program -- 9 to 12 services -- Site open to three sides -- Near major intersection and transit station.

This multi-service center is to service 40,000 people. According to Pattern 1 Small Target Areas (1968), this population is too large, but for political reasons, the decision stands and is irrevocable.

First a triangle site was selected, right on a major intersection (Pattern 2: Location (1968)). However, other requirements made it clear that this site was too small (Pattern 3 Size Based on Population (1968)), and a larger, rectangular site was chosen, one-half block from the original site (thus still conforming to Pattern 2 Location (1968)).

On this site there was room only for emergency parking, and so Pattern 8 (Parking (1968)) does not play a major role. Nor does 5 Small Services without Red Tape (1968), which had not been formulated prior to the Hunts Point Design.

Pattern 16 (Necklace of Community Projects (1968) calls for provisions for community projects around the "live" edge of the building; hence we confine services to the "dead" edge of this building, against other buildings.

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Climate considerations made it clear that the arena could not be open (11: Arena Enclosure (1968), and so it was developed as an interior street. Orientation of this "street" is given by local conditions in accordance with Pattern 7 (Entrance Locations (1968)).

The size of the arena and its relationship to waiting and services is established by Patterns 13 (All Services Off Arena (1968)), 14 (Free Waiting (1968)) and 15 (Overview of Services (1968)); and the arena is shaped accordingly.

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The arena is thus buried in the heart of the building, off the interior street. Since its ceiling had to be high (30 Ceiling Heights (1968)), and since it was to be one of the things visible from outside (10 Open to Street (1968), we gave it a huge, high truss. To further entrance visibility, and in accord with Patterns 23 (Entrance Shape (1968)) and 34 (Street Niches (1968)), the entrances were cut back, deep into the building.

With services taking up the north half of the building, the south was given over to core services and those things that need to be placed along the line of entry (Patterns 21: Self-Service (1968), 27: Self-Service Progression (1968), 28: The Intake Process (1968), 32: Child-Care Position (1968).

Next a service layout is established (33 Service Layout (1968) and 40 Office Flexibility (1968)); and the arena is raked back with a gallery at the second floor (25 Building Steeped Back from Arena (1968)).

Finally, "pockets" in the arena are shaped and filled according to Patterns 29 Activity Pockets (1968)), 35 (Information-Conversation (1968)), 43 (Waiting Diversions (1968)), and 42 (Sleeping Ok (1968)).

This page is part of A Pattern Language Which Generates Multi-Service Centers (1968)